Schuylkill teen charged with sexual assault

A Schuylkill County teen was arrested and jailed on Monday, charged with sexually assaulting two young girls, including one from the New Ringgold area.

State police at Schuylkill Haven said Sean Cook, 18, of Pottsville, has been charged with statutory sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault and various related charges. Troopers said two criminal complaints have been charged at the office of District Judge James Ferrier, of Orwigsburg.

Troopers identified the victims as a 13-year-old from New Ringgold and a 14-year-old from Cressona.

Cook was taken into custody by Pottsville city police Monday and turned over to troopers. He was then arraigned before duty District Judge Anthony Kilker, of Shenandoah, and committed to the county prison in Pottsville in lieu of $50,000 straight case bail. The bail amount was for each set of criminal complaints for a total of $100,000.

According to troopers in December, 2009 the New Ringgold area girl told troopers that she had been the victim of sexual assault involving Cook. She also provided information that there was a second victim who was later identified as the teen from Cressona. Troopers said a further investigation of the account of the victims were substantiated and the charges filed.

The alleged incidents occurred at a private residence in Cressona and in a wooded area along railroad tracks behind the Cressona Mall in North Manheim Township.